Abstract
Developments in the biological sciences have produced great benefits, including in relation to the control of diseases. However, in the recent and not so recent past, a number of governments have sought to develop biological weapons, e.g. the large-scale biological weapons program in the Soviet Union from 1946 to 1992. Moreover, there have been a number of acts, or attempted acts, of bioterrorism, notably by the Aum Shinrikyo in Japan. Techniques of genetic engineering have been available for some time to enhance the virulence, transmissibility and so on of naturally occurring pathogens. Recent developments in synthetic genomics have exacerbated the problem even further. Accordingly, there is the very real possibility of malevolent individuals or groups acquiring pathogens that have enhanced virulence and transmissibility and releasing them into the environment with catastrophic consequence. Some obvious regulatory measures that might be considered in relation to dual use issues include: regulations providing for mandatory physical safety and security of the storage, transport and physical access to samples of pathogens, equipment, laboratories etc.; mandatory licensing of dual-use technologies/techniques/pathogen samples; mandatory education and training; mandatory personnel security regulation e.g. background checks; censorship.
Earlier versions of many of the claims, arguments and proposals in this chapter appeared in Miller and Selgelid (2007), Miller (2009), van der Bruggen et al. (2011) and Miller (2013).
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Notes
- 1.
Selgelid (2016).
- 2.
Hence the need to turn to functional definitions of biological agents rather than lists of pre-existing ones.
- 3.
National Research Council (2004).
- 4.
Miller and Selgelid (2008).
- 5.
An earlier version of much of the material in this section appeared in Miller (2000, 110–131).
- 6.
An earlier version of the material in this section appeared in Miller and Selgelid (2011, 1–122).
- 7.
Corneliussen (2006, S50–S52).
- 8.
Miller and Selgelid (2011, 84–85).
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Miller, Seumas, and Michael Selgelid. 2007. Ethical and Philosophical Consideration of the Dual Use Dilemma in the Biological Sciences. Science and Engineering Ethics 13: 523–580.
Miller, Seumas, and Michael Selgelid. 2008. Ethical and Philosophical Consideration of the Dual-Use Dilemma in the Biological Sciences. Dordrecht: Springer.
Miller, Seumas and Michael Selgelid. 2011. Report on Biosecurity and Dual Use Research (Part 2), 1–122 and 84–85. The Hague: Dutch Research Council.
Selgelid, Michael. 2016. Gain of Function Research: Ethical Analysis. Science and Engineering Ethics 22 (4): 923–964.
National Research Council. 2004. Biotechnology Research in an Age of Terrorism. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
van der Bruggen, Koos, Seumas Miller and Michael Selgelid. 2011. Report on Biosecurity and Dual Use Research, 1–122. Dutch Research Council.
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Miller, S. (2018). Biological Sciences. In: Dual Use Science and Technology, Ethics and Weapons of Mass Destruction. SpringerBriefs in Ethics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92606-3_8
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